Chemical pathology
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Item Plasma glucose and thiocyanate response to different mixed cassava meals in non-diabetic Nigerians(The Macmillan Press Ltd., 1990-01) Akanji, A. O.; Adeyefa, I.; Charles-Davies, M.; Osotimehin, B. O.We measured plasma glucose and thiocyanate levels before and up to 4 h after feeding 11 overnight fasted healthy non-diabetic volunteers randomly on three occasions each with three locally consumed cassava meals: (i) gari as eba 50 g; (ii) lafun 50 g and (iii) parboiled cassava flakes 76 g. Each of these meals contained 175 kcal (0.7 MJ) and was consumed with a sauce to a total caloric value of 300 kcal (1.26 MJ). On the fourth visit, each volunteer consumed 75 g glucose. While the peak and 2-h glucose values were greatest with oral glucose (P less than 0.01), they were similar with the three cassava meals, although tended to be lowest with lafirn. Similarly, areas (incremental and total) under the glucose/time curves were highest with oral glucose (P less than 0.05), but while eba and cassava flakes were similar, lafun had the lowest values (P less than 0.05). Plasma thiocyanate levels were unchanged after ingestion of oral glucose and eba, but increased to peak values (P less than 0.05) by 14 per cent on cassava flakes and by 23 per cent on lafun. We conclude that post-prandial glycaemia and plasma thiocyanate levels after cassava meals depend on the mode of preparation of the meal and that lafun showed the least glycaemic response of the three cassava meals tested although it caused the greatest increase in plasma thiocyanate levels. These findings suggest that a cyanogenetic potential does not always reflect a tendency to hyperglycaemia.Item Dietary salt and the glycaemic response to meals of different fibre content(The Macmillan Press Ltd., 1989) Akanji, A. O.; Charles-Davies, M. A.; Ezenwaka, C.; Abbiyesuku, F. A.; Osotimehin, B. O.In attempting to resolve the existing controversy on the effect of dietary salt intake on glycaemic responses, wc investigated post-prandial plasma glucose levels in 10 healthy normal weight non-diabetic Nigerian subjects (aged 23.1 years ± 1.3 (s.e.m.) with body mass index, BMI 19.9 ± 0.6kg/m2) consuming equal amounts of carbohydrate from glucose, boiled yam (tow fibre content of 0.9 per cent raw tuber weight) and boiled black-eyed peas (high fibre content of 4.8 per cent dry weight) with and without added table salt (4.25g). The results indicated no significant differences in fasting, peak and 2-h plasma glucose concentrations and total and incremental areas under the 3-h glucose/time curves in the subjects consuming each meal with and without added salt. Added salt had no influence on the glycaemic index of each meal. We conclude that salt has no effect on the glycaemic response to plain glucose or meals with varying fibre content even in a population known to demonstrate defects in salt handling.Item A STUDY OF THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PLASMA CORTISOL LEVELS, ESTROUS CYCLES, RECTAL TEMPERATURES AND RESPIRATORY RATES IN HEIFERS(1978-06) ADEYEMO, O.The need to improve the animal protein diet of the Nigerian population has underlined the importation of temperate-evolved cattle into Nigeria. How these animals adapt to the new environment should be of economic and scientific interest. Under the natural hot/humid subequatorial climate of Ibadan, some physiologic, adrenocortical and reproductive functions were investigated in 6 German Brown, 5 Holstein and 6 White Fulani heifers. The Brown/ Holstein and Fulani heifers attained puberty at the average eyes, with the standard deviation, of 17.8 + 1.6, 16.7 + 1.8 and 23.7 + 1.9 months respectively. Observations on estrous cycles showed that estrous period ranged between 7 and 31 hours in the three breeds, the mean values, with the standard errors, being 16.2+0.7, 15.8 ± 0.7 and 14.6 +_0.8 hours in the Brown, Holstein and Fulani heifers respectively. The difference between the Bos taurus and Bos indices cattle was slight but significant. Most estrus commenced during the day with a greater concentration in the morning time. The intensity of estrus was high in both species though, occasionally, a few Fulani heifers showed weaker estrual signs. Average estrous cycle length was slightly longer in the Brown and Fulani than in the Holstein heifers, the values, with the standard errors, being 21.0 + 0.3, 21.4 ± 0.2 and 20.1 + 0.2 days respectively. Ovulations occurred mostly within a day after estrus, and this as well as the duration of estrus and estrous cycle length showed no seasonal variations. There was no indication that Bos taurus and Bos indicus cattle under the semi-intensive management preferred any particular season for increased sexual activity or breeding in the sub-equatorial climate. Marked shifts occurred in the respiratory rates during four selected quarters of the year. Increases occurring in the dry hot season from the values in the relatively cooler season were highly significant. Both mean morning and mean afternoon values (l4 - 44 and 17 – 75 breaths per minute respectively) were highest in the Holstein and lowest in the Fulani heifers. Rectal temperatures showed slight but significant seasonal changes. Mean values were 101.3°F (38.5°C) and 102.2°F (39.0°C) in the morning and afternoon respectively for all the heifers together through the year. The lowest afternoon values occurred in the wettest and coolest months. The Fulani and Holstein heifers showed the lowest and highest mean values respectively. Diurnal and circadian shifts in the respiratory rates and rectal temperatures in the heifers were most exaggerated in the sun and in the Holsteins, the latter particularly exhibited polypnea and hyperthermia. Unlike the zebu, the Bos taurus cattle sought shade in the sun. The Holstein heifers sought shade more frequently and stayed there longer than the Brown heifers. Basal plasma cortisol concentrations at 07 - 08.00 hours, determined by radioimmunoassay during four quarters of the year was low, ranging between 1 - 10 ng/ml with occasional mid-cycle and more frequent- . proestrual and/or estrual elevations. Mean values showed slight but significant seasonal changes. The levels in the dry season were slightly lower than in the wet season. Breed differences were not significant. Diurnal and circadian plasma cortisol concentrations in heifers in the shade and in the sun showed no rhythmical pattern. Exogenous corticotrophin at and after mid-cycle stage elicited marked and prolonged adrenocortical response which varied between heifers, and did not alter estrous. cycle rhythmicity. A high adrenal reserve in the heifers was indicated. Bos taurus cattle have been found to be adaptable to the southern Nigerian climate represented by the Ibadan condition. Management practice should, however, ensure all-year-round provision of shade and adequate nutrition including the adoption of night grazing. The Brown cattle are recommended over the Holsteins because the former are more comfortable, A mixed herd of the two breeds should be discouraged because socially the Browns dominate over the Holsteins. The Fulani cattle are more adaptable to the subequatorial climate than the temperate-evolved cattle as evidenced by the physiological responses, artificial breeding should be suitable for the Fulani cattle as it is for the Bos taurus cattle. The need to adopt better management practices than hitherto existing, range system for the Fulani cattle so that their reproductive and productive attributes may be well manifested, is indicated.Item MALARIA PARASITAEMIA AND HUMORAL IMMUNE RESPONSES TO SOME DEFINED PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM ANTIGENS IN NEWBORNS, INFANTS AND ADULT NIGERIANS(1994-08) ACHIDI, E. A.A cohort of mothers and then newborns at Igbo-Ora, Oyo State was studied longitudinally for 12 months to determine the incidence of malaria parasitaemia, episodes of clinical malaria and their humoral immune response to malaria infection. Cross-sectional studies were also performed on adults at the Government Technical College, Igbo-Ora and blood donors at the University College Hospital, Ibadan during the rainy and dry seasons. Peripheral and cord blood samples were collected from 116 women at delivery and maternal-newborn malariometric indices were recorded. Infants were monitored fortnightly to detect episodes of clinical malaria and serial blood samples were collected at bi-monthly clinics. Blood samples were collected from 100 volunteers at the G.T.C. Igbo-Ora in July, 1991 and 33 of these volunteers in February, 1992; 224 blood donors at the U.C.H., Ibadan between October and November, 1991 and in 192 donors in March, 1992. Immunological assays included single radial immunodiffusion assay for IgG, IgM and IgA; immunofluorescence assay for antibodies to total blood stage antigens; erythrocyte membrane immunofluorescence (EMIF) assay to detect antibodies to the Pfl55/RESA; and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for antibodies to four synthetic peptides. Malaria parasites were detected in 2.5% of cord blood samples and in 22.4% of the parturient women. The malaria parasite rates and densities of the study infants increased significantly with increasing age. Parasite rates at the July and February surveys at the G.T.C. were similar (P>0.50) while parasite density was higher (P<0.01) at the July survey. The parasite rate of blood donors at the October-November survey was higher (P<0.001) than at the March survey while parasite density in March was higher (P<0.001) than at the October-November survey. Cord blood IgG was significantly lower than maternal IgG levels and a correlation was observed between cord and maternal IgG but not IgM levels. During the first year of life, IgM but not IgG and IgA was significantly higher in malaria positive infants compared with negative infants. Antibodies to total blood stage antigens were detected in all sera tested. Malaria-specific IgM was detected in 5.8% of cord blood samples. There was a correlation between maternal and cord blood antibody titres to the Pfl55/RESA (P<0.001) antigen. In addition a correlation was obtained between maternal and cord blood ELISA (OD405) values to the (EENV)6, LJ5 and MAP2 peptides but not (NANP)6 peptide. There was no correlation between cord blood IgG, IgM, anti- Pfl55 antibody titres, ELISA (OD405) values to the (EENV)6, (NANP)6, U5 and MAP2 peptides and duration of onset of malaria in the infant. Cord blood seropositivity for antibodies to the Pfl55/RESA and (NANP)6 antigens or (EENV)6 and (NANP)6 peptides did not influence age of onset of clinical malaria. However, infants with haemoglobin AS whose cord blood was seropositive for antibodies to the Pfl55/RESA and (NANP)6 antigens or (EENV)6 and (NANP)6 peptides showed delayed onset of clinical malaria compared with AA infants. In adults, anti-Pfl55 antibody titres and ELISA seroreactivities to the (EENV)6, LJ5 and MAP2 peptides showed a wide variation and individual levels were similar on consecutive surveys. Seroreactivity to the (NANP)6, was higher at the end of the rainy season than at the end of the dry season. The presence and level of antibodies to the Pfl55/RESA, (EENV)6, (NANP)6, U5 and MAP2 antigens did not influence the presence and density of malaria parasites. Parasitological data in infants suggest some relative protection within the first 2-3 months of life. However, maternally acquired antibodies alone may not be responsible for this observation. The presence of malaria-specific IgM in cord blood suggest intrauterine sensitization of the foetus by malarial antigens. Although no relationship was observed between malarial antibody levels and parasite rates/densities in the adult subjects, these antibodies may still play a role in immune protection against malaria.